Inside Tyson Foods’ beef-processing plant in Joslin, Illinois, workers facing layoffs have filmed production areas where phones are normally prohibited. The facility processed about 3,100 cattle daily, and its closure will force many local ranchers to transport livestock more than 100 miles to alternative plants, increasing costs and logistical pressure. The shutdown also raises questions about consolidation in America’s meat-processing industry. In less than a year, four Tyson facilities and three plants owned by Brazil-based JBS have reportedly closed or announced closures. Meanwhile, multimillion-dollar executive compensation packages have intensified criticism from workers, farmers, and rural communities affected by the cuts. Rather than allowing processing capacity to become increasingly concentrated, policymakers should help independent farmers and regional cooperatives establish smaller, locally owned plants. Federal loans, grants, and streamlined regulatory support could strengthen competition, reduce transportation distances, and improve food-supply resilience. Taxpayers also deserve a transparent review of past agricultural subsidies, including the $78 million reportedly provided to JBS during the 2018–2019 American farmer bailout program.